Liquid power booster



Aug. 3, 1965 F. GRELL, SR

LIQUID POWER BOOSTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 14, 1962 Frank Gre/l, Sr.

INVENTOR.

Aug. 3, 1965 F. GRELL, SR 3,198,085

LIQUID POWER BOOSTER Filed June 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3

" Frank Gre/l, 5/:

INVEN TOR.

BY in a United States Patent 3,198,085 LIQUID POWER BOOSTER Frank Grell, Sr., Fort Dodge, Iowa, assignor of forty-nine percent to Eugene 0. Cornell, Fort Dodge, Iowa Filed June 14, 1962, Ser. No. 202,604 4 Claims. (Cl. 91-142) The present invention generally relates to a power converting device and more particularly a device to convert the power supplied by a hydraulic pump to rotatable mechanical power for enabling such power to be more easily employed.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a liquid power booster which will convert liquid or hydraulic power into mechanical power and includes a rotary fluid motor of a particular construction which forms the essential features of the present invention.

The rotary fluid motor is of extremely simple construction and includes a stator in the form of a casing with a removable cover together with a rotor disposed therein of annular configuration whereby the entire center of the device is hollow. The rotor is provided with an internal ring gear in meshing engagement with a small pinion gear carried by an output shaft whereby the output shaft will be driven by the rotor.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a rotary fluid motor having a casing with a cylindrical interior and an annular rotor of smaller diameter thereby defining an annular chamber having an inlet and an outlet separated by a stationary abutment. The rotor is provided with a plurality of pivotally mounted lips or vanes which are received in notches within the rotor when they pass the abutment and then are disposed in the annular space between the rotor and the casing to form a pressure chamber while communicated with the pressured liquid inlet whereby such liquid will cause the rotor to rotate, the liquid subsequently being discharged as the space behind each vane or lip comunicates with an outlet opening and is forced back into the notch by engagement with the cam surface on the abutment.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary fluid motor having a tank attached thereto for the hydraulic fluid together with a suitable pump communicated therewith whereby the hydraulic circuit will be efiicient and compact and at the same time devoid of pipes and conduits having screw threaded fittings which are prone to leakage.

Still another important feature of the present invention is to provide a rotary type hydraulic motor which is quite simple in construction, provided with very few moving parts, provided with an annular bearing in the casing for engaging the rotor thereby eliminating expensive wear compensating components with the entire structure being relatively inexpensive to manufacture, quite simple in operation and also efficient.

These together with other objects and advantages which will subsequently become apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating the liquid power booster of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken sub- "ice stantially upon a plane passing along section line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the construction of the casing and the rotor as well as the relationship between the cover plate and rotor;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the casing and rotor with the cover plate removed and with portions of the rotor broken away for illustrating the construction of the rotor;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse, sectional view taken sub stantially upon a plane passing along section line 44 of FIGURE 1 illustrating further structural details of the motor;

FIGURE 5 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 5-5 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the construction of the abutment block and its relationship to the vanes or lips on the rotor as well as the inlet for hydraulic pressure;

FIGURE 6 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 66 of FIGURE 3 illustrating the construction of the multiple outlets for the hydraulic fluid; and

FIGURE 7 is a detailed fragmental perspective view of a portion of the rotor and one of the lips or vanes mounted therein.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the rotary fluid motor of the present invention which includes a cylindrical housing or casing 12 having an end plate 14 integral therewith with the end plate 14 being of annular construction thus defining an enlarged hollow central area 16 which includes a cylindrical wall 18 parallel to the cylindrical casing 12 thus defining an internal annular space 20. Disposed in the space 20 is a rotor 22 of annular construction which is rotatably journaled in an annular groove or recess 24 defined in the end plate 14.

The interior surface of the rotor 22 is provided with a plurality of inwardly facing gear teeth 26 thus defining an internal ring gear. The exterior surface of the annular rotor 22 is provided with a plurality of notches or pockets 28 therein which are of a width substantially equal to the width of the annular space 20 with the ledges 30 on each side of the notch 28 forming a bearing engagement with the radially outer surface of the recess 24.

An annular cover plate 32 is provided for the casing 12 and is secured in place by a plurality of through bolts 34 or the like. A suitable sealing gasket 36 may be provided for sealing the cover plate 32 to the casing 12. The cover plate 32 is provided with a recess 38 equivalent to the recess 24 and receiving the annular rotor 22 in the same manner. The longitudinal outer surfaces of the grooves 24 and 32 are provided with annular sealing members 40 engaging the side surfaces of the rot-or 22 thus sealing the rotor and preventing leakage of liquid from the space 20.

An output shaft 42 is provided in offset relation to the center of the motor and the shaft 42 is journaled in bearings 4-4 and in a bearing recess 46 in extensions of the end wall 14 and cover 32 respectively, such extensions being designated by the numerals 48 and 50. An arcuate cap 52 is disposed between the extensions 48 and 50 and is secured to the end of the wall 18 by fastener bolts 54. Disposed within the area enclosed by the cap 52 is a small pinion gear 56 rigidly attached to the drive shaft 42 and in meshing engagement with the internal ring gear tending position.

impart rotation to the drive shaft 42.

Each of the notchesor recesses 28 has a lip or vane 56; received therein so that the recess 28 is substantially filled when the lip or vane 56 is disposed therein as illustrated in FIGURE 5. The width'of the lip or vane 56 is substantially equal to the Width of the space 269 for forming a v2 6 on the rotor 22 whereby rotation of the rotor 22 will 7 the casing 12 and widens as itapproaches the inner curved surface'there'of. Securing bolts 90 are provided for securing the abutment block 60 in position and a cushioning and sealing device 92 is provided between the abutment passageway 74.

partition therein or an abutment thereacross when in ex tended position as illustrated in FIGURE 3; The outer T end of the vane 56 is curve'dsmoothly as at 58 at the same radius of curvature as the internal surface of the casing 12 so that the free end edge of the vane will effec-v tively sealingly contact the inner surfaceof. the casing 12 angle for enabling the vane tobe forced back intothe notch'by an abutinent'block 60 described in detail hereinafter. .Each notch 28 also'has a pair of apertures 62 communicated through to the side walls of the rotor 2-2 for receiving a rod or pin 64 which alsoextends through a bore 66 in the vane 56 thereby pivotally supporting the vane with the pivotal axis extending throughout the width liquid to communicate with the back side or underside a a of the vane 56 when it passes the inlet for assuring that V the vane 56 will be quickly moved The abutment block 66 has a substantially radial dropto its outwardly ex' off surface 70 having an inclined groove or passageway 72 therein communicatingtwith a radial high pressure inlet 7 sure whereby such hydraulic liquid will be forced into the space 20 and as; each vane'passesthe drop-otfW',"

the hydraulic liquid will be forced in behind the vane and will cooperate with centrifugal force to cause the r vanes to pivot outwardly to form a partition or abutment u'pontwhich hydraulic pressure exerts force thereby causing rotation'of the rotor. As'so'ontas' the next adjacent vane passes the inlet, the hydraulic liquid will be retained in a trap until it reaches the discharge or exhaust area which includes three passageways 78 extending through the end wall'14 and three L-sha'ped passageways 3t) ex tending radially in the casing 12 and then longitudinally parallel to the passageways 78 for discharge into a liquid tank 82'which is attached to the end wall of the casing 12 remote from the cover 52. The tank 32 is providedwith principles of the invention.

The casing 12 may be supported in any suitable manner Isuch as by laterally extending lugs 91 carried by a supporting framework 93 and secured thereto by suitable bolts 94 or other fastening devices.

The device is extremely simple in construction and easy to repair since it is only necessary to remove the bolts 34 thus enabling the cover plate32 tobe removed thereby providing accessto the rotor and the vanes. Any suitmodifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the'art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents maybe 'resortedto, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed. 7

What is claimed as new is 'as follows; a p 1 1. A rotary fluid motor comprising a casing having a peripheral wall having a substantially cylindrical inner surface and an integral end wall extending radially inwardly at one'axial end of said casing, an annular rotor disposed inisaid casing in spaced concentric relation to the inner wall, a cover plate for the other axial end of said casing, said inner surface, rotor surface, end wall a the rotor thereby providing a partition in the annular a quantity ofhydraulic liquid, 84 and the passageways-- 78 and tl communicate with the tank 82 above the nor-- mal liquid level. The through bolts 34 may conveniently be used for securing the tank 82 in positionand the bottom of the tank 82 may have a liquid supply line 86 connected with a suitable hydraulic pump which has a "invention except that this arrangement provides a com- 7 space, fluid pressure inlet means on one side of the abuta ment communicating with said annular space, fluid outlet means on the other side of theabutment communicating with said annular'space, and a'plurality of pivotal vanes mountedon'the rotor having the free end thereof in sealing engagement with the inner surface of the casing rotational movement.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said fluid outlet means includesa plurality of passageways in the -casing, certain passageways extending only longitudinally,'-other of the passageways extending radially and then longitudinally, and a fluid tank communicating with h -d h d of the passages for receiving fluid discharged therefrom, Q w

a 3. The structure; as defined in claim 2, wherein said ,rotor includes a plurality of recesses therein completely receiving-"the vanes when they are in retracted'position,

' saidabutinent having a camfsurface on'the approach pact orientation of the motor andtheliquid'supply reservoir. I a V I The approach surface of the abutment otlis curved as at 38 forming a cam surface for engaging the vanes or lips 56 for forcing them back into the notches or recess-es Also,fthe curved surface'fiS, may be vrsh'aped 'in construction to provide a divergin g'surface, for engaging the vanes 56in addition to the curved surface 88 thus forming a curve'd surface 88 .which is narrow adjacent side whereby the abutment will force the vanes into the recesses during rotation of the rotor, the free end of the vanes being spaced from the end of the recesses'when received therein-thereby enabling fluid to be exhausted from behind the vanes for enabling them to be completely received :within the recessesrin the rotor, said abutment having a straightdnop-oif on the departureside thereof for, enabling the vanes to quickly move" into engagement withthe inner surface of the inner wall of the casing after they pass the abutment.

W 4. The structure as defined in claim 3, wherein the departuresid'e of the abutment has a groove formed there- Further, since numerous 5 in for communication with the trailing end of the notches whereby fluid pressure will enter behind the vanes for assisting in urging the vanes out towards the inner wall of the casing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Cotoli 103-140 Eggleton 10314() Van Osdel 123-14 Berntsen 123-16 Wright 123l7 KARL J. ALBRECHT, Primary Examiner.

FRED E. ENGELTHALER, Examiner. 

1. A ROTARY FLUID MOTOR COMPRISING A CASING HAVING A PERIPHERAL WALL HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL INNER SURFACE AND AN INTEGRAL END WALL EXTENDING RADIALLYINWARDLY AT ONE AXIAL END OF SAID CASING, AN ANNULAR ROTOR DISPOSED IN SAID CASING IN SPACED CONCENTRIC RELATION TO THE INNER WALL, A COVER PLATE FOR THE OTHER AXIAL END OF SAID CASING, INNER SURFACE, ROTOR SURFACE, END WALL AND COVER PLATE PROVIDING A CLOSED ANNULAR SPACE, SAID COVER PLAGE AND SAID END WALL EACH HAVING A CONTINOUS ANNULAR RECES THEREIN, THE AXIAL ENDS OF SAID ROTOR EXTENDING INTO SAID RECESSES, SAID RECESSES FORMING A BEARING FOR BOTH INNER AND OTHER RADIAL SURFACES OF SAID AXIAL ENDS OF THE ROTOR, AN ABUTMENT ATTACHED TO THE CASING AND SEALINGLY ENGAGING THE RADIAL OUTER PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF THE ROTOR THEREBY PROVIDING A PARTITION IN THE ANNULAR SPACE, FLUID PRESSURE INLET MEANS ON ONE SIDE OF THE ABUT- 